AXREM Launches Member Accreditation Scheme AMA

05 April 2022

AXREM (the UK trade association representing suppliers of diagnostic medical imaging, radiotherapy, healthcare IT and care equipment in the UK), are aware that some NHS Trusts in England have contracted with 3rd party companies to provide a credentialing and accreditation service on their behalf. Such services are typically offered as “free” to participating NHS Trusts, though these credentialing companies levy a charge to supplier organisations on a recurring annual “per employee” basis. This presents additional costs within the supply chain which ultimately impacts the price the NHS pays for goods and services.

Furthermore, there are multiple scheme operators and supplier employees registered with one scheme are potentially still refused access should the NHS Trust they are visiting have contracted with an alternate scheme, meaning that some companies may have to sign staff up to multiple schemes further increasing pricing impacts.

As a consequence, AXREM is launching the AXREM Member Accreditation (AMA) Scheme which is a true low cost “not for profit” accreditation scheme which reduces the cost burden within the supply chain; (costs that would otherwise inevitably find themselves reflected in the cost of products and services borne by NHS Trusts and other healthcare providers). The scheme is specifically aligned with NHS requirements and policies. Indeed, the AXREM Member Accreditation Scheme Council includes representations from The Society and College of Radiographers, Institute of Physics & Engineering in Medicine, The Royal College of Radiologists and The British Institute of Radiology. This will ensure that the scheme is open and transparent, maintaining alignment with NHS and Professional Body stakeholders.

Fundamentally this scheme is an “Employers” scheme such that the AXREM Employer organisation underwrites the credentials of its employees against agreed criteria. AXREM will carry out “audits” to ensure that the correct procedures are being adhered to by the relevant companies. Scheme member employers commit to reflect NHS policies such as those relating to DBS checking, Vaccination policy, and Health & Safety. Employers also assume a responsibility to ensure their staff are trained/qualified as appropriate to their role. Registrants will carry an AMA membership card which will display their name, their employers company name, their photo, and a unique ID number and associated QR code. The employment status of the individual can be simply checked at any time by scanning the badge on the QR code without requiring specialist equipment and enabling validation of the registrant.

Sally Edgington, AXREM Director said “Credentialing has caused concerns to our members for many years, and in recent years it is becoming an ever-increasing financial burden that companies cannot absorb, ultimately and indirectly these costs are going back to the NHS on the bottom line of products and services. AXREM wants to provide members with a scheme for our industry and the NHS a scheme aligned to their requirements that is truly not for profit. Over the coming months myself and AXREM members will be working with trusts to ensure they recognise AMA and accept the registrants ID cards at the point of entry to hospitals”.

ENDS